Declutter Quickies

October 3, 2016December 9, 2019 organizationalhabits Baby steps to start getting organized, Building your personal brand, Changing habits, Organizational Exercises, Productivity tips for work, Tips on decluttering Changing habits, decluttering your life, forming a new habit, getting organized, how to get organized, Organizational Exercises, organizational tips, Tips on decluttering

If you’re feeling overwhelmed by stuff at home or at work, it’s time to declutter. Decluttering is not neatening up, sorting, or organizing, it’s actually getting rid of stuff and that’s tough for many. The cool thing about decluttering is that if you do it right, you have a very clear idea of what you own. And when you put things again in their own place, you also know where to find them.

And remember: The goal is Organizational Zen which is the peace of knowing you’ve got a handle on your life. You don’t have to organize the entire world – just your world 🙂 Continue reading →

3 tips to help you make a decision

October 1, 2016December 9, 2019 organizationalhabits Baby steps to start getting organized, Business tips, Changing habits, Decision making, Organizational Exercises Changing habits, Decision making, forming a new habit, getting organized, getting things done, how to get organized, Organizational Exercises, organizational tips

If feels like we make dozens of decisions every day, but much of what we do is based more on habit than choice. What time we get up. What we have for breakfast. Where we go for a run. What work we do. What we do for fun. Even what we say and how we react to what life offers us is more habit than decision. Continue reading →

What did you learn today?

September 28, 2016December 9, 2019 organizationalhabits Big project ideas, Business tips, Changing habits, Organizational Exercises, Tips on running errands Changing habits, forming a new habit, getting things done, Organizational Exercises, organizational tips

Learning something new every day keeps you engaged with life. It gives you interesting things to think about – and to talk about!

Here are 10 tips to elevate the curiosity-quotient in your life. Continue reading →

Complaining is not a strategy

September 26, 2016December 9, 2019 organizationalhabits Big project ideas, Building your personal brand, Business tips, Changing habits, Organizational Exercises, Setting organizational priorities Big project ideas, Changing habits, figuring out my life work, forming a new habit, getting organized, getting things done, How to stay focused, Organizational Exercises, organizational tips, Prioritizing tasks, working on big projects

If you find yourself complaining a lot, it’s time to stop. Complaining is a waste of your time and other people’s time. If you don’t like something, try to fix it.

If you don’t know how to fix it, that’s awesome. That’s your challenge! Study the stuff that bugs you to see if you’re complaining about things that really matter to you. Or is complaining just a bad habit?

A few things of note: If you’re complaining about a person and you’re doing it behind their back you’re not going to change anything. Continue reading →

Tips for efficient travel

September 23, 2016October 11, 2016 organizationalhabits Business tips, Changing habits, Organizational Exercises, Travel tips Changing habits, getting things done, how to get organized, organizational tips, Travel tips

Traveling is a great challenge for your soul. When you experience new places and meet new people – especially if there is a language challenge – your brain gets excited. You remember details of each day of a trip. How often does that happen when you’re going through your regular daily routine?

To keep the challenge positive, it helps to be organized. Here are a few tips to help smooth out the trip. Continue reading →

What’s your “Why”?

September 21, 2016December 9, 2019 organizationalhabits Big project ideas, Changing habits, Organizational Exercises, Setting organizational priorities, Working with your guides Big project ideas, Changing habits, figuring out my life work, getting things done, how to get organized, How to stay focused, Organizational Exercises, organizational tips, Prioritizing tasks, working on big projects, Working with your guides

At the end of one of the first talks I gave on Organizational Zen, a participant said he understood that if he wanted to stop wasting time it would be great to have a larger goal in mind.

It’s just that he didn’t have any bigger work to do. He had raised his children and run a successful business, and as a retiree, felt like no one needed him anymore. He asked how he should spend the last years of his life.

Oh, my. No one can answer that question for you; it’s something that comes from inside and only you can bring it to life. Continue reading →

Your time is valuable; set your intent!

September 19, 2016December 9, 2019 organizationalhabits Baby steps to start getting organized, Changing habits, Getting started, Organizational Exercises, Productivity tips for work, Setting organizational priorities Changing habits, forming a new habit, getting organized, getting things done, Getting work done, How to stay focused, Organizational Exercises, organizational tips, Prioritizing tasks

When I am giving a talk, or I’m working with a group on organizational skills, the first question I ask is about intent. The question of the moment is:

“What do you want to get out of this class?”

Thinking about why you are doing something helps you focus on the task at hand. And when I’m giving a talk, I want people to focus, to listen with an end-goal in mind. It’s not that I think the content is so important; it’s that I think each person’s time is so important.

Which gets to the bigger question, and the one I hope you ask yourself before committing your time to any work, project, or person:

“Is spending time on this something that’s important to me?” Continue reading →

Ask your guides for help – and listen for the answers

September 14, 2016December 9, 2019 organizationalhabits Getting started, Organizational Exercises, Working with your guides getting things done, Getting work done, Organizational Exercises, organizational tips, Working with your guides

Organizational Zen comes from spending time on your best work. It’s that “ah” feeling of knowing you’re using your time wisely, of being in the zone, of being on top of your game.

If you’re not feeling the Zen, ask your guides for help. We have all sorts of guides who help us through life. We have the ones you expect – teachers, parents, bosses. And we have surprise guides – authors, song lyrics, a perfect stranger who sits next to on a plane, even the voices in your head.

The trick to working with guides is to recognize that they are everywhere – both visible and invisible. My most reliable guides include my husband, my mom – and writers like Seth Godin, Leo Baubata, David Allen, Pema Chodron, and Elizabeth Gilbert. I also think there are mystical guides who help us through the day. Elizabeth Gilbert calls this magic and I think she is right. You would not believe how much my travel guides help me – especially when I am looking for a parking space downtown! If that isn’t magic, I don’t know what is. Continue reading →

12 steps when you’re facing a jumble of rocks

September 12, 2016October 11, 2016 organizationalhabits Baby steps to start getting organized, Business tips, Changing habits, Getting started, Organizational Exercises Changing habits, forming a new habit, getting organized, getting things done, how to get organized, organizational tips, working on big projects

Last week, someone asked me why I started Organizational Habits. I was pondering this while out walking along the rocky Maine shore and thought the landscape perfectly illustrated my “why”.

Whether you are trying to get organized, are forming a new habit, or are seeking a new path, here are 12 steps you don’t want to miss. Continue reading →